Running-gear for vehicles.



N0. 808,068. PATBNTED DEC. 26, 1905. S. N. BURDSALL.

RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17.1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUNNING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

on fil d March 17,1005. Serial No. 250,500.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN N. BURDSALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Gear forVehicles; and 1 do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in running-gearfor vehicles; and the improvements relate specifically to the connectionbetween the upper head block plate with the reach-irons, whereby thereachirons are supported and the front gear is centered and thehead-block plate is firmly held by the connection and the necessity ofmaking openings, shoulders, or any recesses in the head-block plate isavoided.

Preceding a detail description of the invention reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a top plan View of therunninggear frame with ends of the rear axle broken away. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional View of the running-gear frame on the line :0 00of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the head-blockplate and the kingbolt and sockets by which the head-block plate and thelower brace and the axlecap are connected at the middle of the axle;Fig. 4, detached views of the head-block plate; Fig. 5, detached viewsof the bottom brace; Fig. 6, detached views of the reach-irons; Fig. 7detached views of the central socket-clip; Fig. 8, a detail viewof theclip connecting the reach with the rear axle.

In a detail description of the invention similar reference charactersindicate corresponding parts.

1 designates the head-block, connected to the upper member 25 of thefifth-wheel.

2 designates the head-block spring, which is inclosed by clips 3,connecting with lugs on reach-irons 1.

Between the head-block 1 and the reachirons 4 the head-block plate 5 isinclosed. The head-block plate has a rearward central extension 6, fromwhich projects downwardly an apertured boss or socket 7. This featurecomprises one of the parts of the invention in connection with the upperreach-iron 4, 1'

which has an apertured boss or socket 8, with a recess 9 in its upperend that receives the apertured boss 7 on the head-plock plate 5. Thelower end of said apertured boss or socket 8 terminates in a reduceddiameter 10.

11 designates acentral two-prong clip which embraces the upper side ofthe axle-cap12; and axle 13 is made secure below said axlecap by aclip-bar 1 1 and the usual nuts 15. Referring further to the centralclip 11, 11' designates an apertured boss or socket projecting from saidclip with its top and bottom recessed. The socket 11 is essentially onthe rear prong of the clip, and its position is necessarily 0n the lowerportion of said prong in order that said socket may occupy a positionwith its lower terminal adjacent to the bot tom of the axle 13. Theupper recess receives the reduced portion 10 of the apertured boss 8,projecting from the reach-irons 4. Projecting into the recess in thelower side of said socket or apertured boss 11 is an apertured boss 17,which is on the front end of the bottom brace 16. It will be seen fromFig. 3 that there is a continuous alined opening through these parts orsocket-bosses into which a king-bolt 18 passes and is made secureagainst the lower side of the apertured boss 17 by a nut 19. Theadvantage of this manner of connecting the head-block l with the axle 13consists in the fact that it dis penses with the use of one plate belowthe bot tom of the front axle and further reduces the work verymaterially in assembling the gear. For example, when the socket-clip 11is placed in the center of the front axle the whole front gear is readyto be connected withoutfurther adjustment or any measuring of distances,and, furthermore, the king-bolt remains stationary, or, in other words,does not turn with the fifth-wheel. A saving of wear on the king-boltand a consequent loosenessof the connection is avoided thereby, whichobviates the possibility of rattling. There are no bolt hole; throughthe head-block for connecting any of the reach-irons or the king-bolt,and the appearance of the gear-owing to these conditionsis verymaterially enhanced. The bottom brace 16 is bolted tothe underside ofthe reach-irons 4t, and the reach-irons are bolted to the reaches 20,which are connected to the back axle 21.by solid clips 22, which havescrew-lugs 23, which are integral parts of the clips and lie close tothe axle and penetrate the lower reach-irons 24L, forming a regularbination with a head-block, of upper reachirons having an aperturedboss, a head-block plate secured between the bottom of the headblock andthe upper reach-irons, said headblock plate having a central rearwardlyand downwardly apertured boss which enters the apertured boss on theupper reach-irons in the rear of the head-block, a centrally-disposedsocket-clip secured to the axle and receiving in its upper end theapertured boss on the upper reach-irons, a bottom brace or reach-ironhaving an apertured boss which projects into the lower end of the socketon said clip, and a king-bolt passing through said sockets,substantially as specified.

2. In a running-gear for vehicles, the combination with an upperfifth-wheel member having lugs projecting rearwardly therefrom, across-brace uniting said fifth-wheel member with the reaches, andforming a brace for said reaches, said cross-brace havingaforwardlyextended lug which lies below the lower member of thefifth-wheel and forms a bearing therefor, and whereby rattling isprevented. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses. 1

STEPHEN N. BURDSALL. Witnesses: 4

R. J. MOGARTY, O. M. THEoBAL'D.

